What a bummer! What a let down from last week! First thing I did was cruise up to Indian Creek and arrived by 6:45am. Barely getting light. The fish were still there but worried me because they seemed lower in the water than last week. So I started trolling, and trolling, and trolling. I was getting dizzy from running laps inside the creek. Trolled all the way back and out and then up Little Indian Creek. Outside and inside and all around. All the fish were lumped on the bottom or at least 30-40ft down. Nothing up and chasing. I saw some gulls looking like they were expecting breakfast, but they didn't get any. NO surface action at all. I even dropped the A-rigs down low but nothing bit.

Finally I headed up lake to look. Checked Beaver Dam and Linville but not much showing. I did see some fish at the Tennis Courts and gave it a shot. Same thing, down deep and nothing chasing. On the way back I checked Indian Creek again and did some blind trolling between R35 and R34. Checked more places on the way back and found a pile of fish that topped out near 17ft near Willow Tree on a point. I "anchored" there and cast and jigged and dragged A-rigs but nothing bit. I gave up. But it did turn out the be a nice day.

Later, Joel

Out two days again this week so here it is.

Tuesday, 12/11 - I was a little lazy this morning and semi-napped in the car til almost light going on 7am. I was experimenting. I believe I've been seeing fish around Hales Ford Bridge so I started trolling before the bridge heading up river. Ten minutes into the troll I was just past Hales Creek (HC) when KAPOW I had two on at once. I could tell quickly they were not very big. Just as I got the first one in the boat, the second found a tree. Tossed the first and backed down on the second. With a little wiggle and jiggle I was able to get him loose and boated. They were 17" and 18". Not much but exciting for an early bite. I had great hopes for the day but, alas, it was not to be. That was my total for the day. Since I was experimenting I did some time around Coast Guard Point and the other side but saw nothing. Cruised down to Betty's for a peek. I did see some fish in the creek, not many but some. Likewise for the condos. I didn't get into Becky's. Then I had a photo shoot with the new boat. Thanks Bob. Approaching Bob's place past R25, I did notice some fish so after the shoot I went after them. Didn't want cranks or A-rigs. Kept going back to the main channel and found a good school near Poplar Point near the condos. Made a few passes on them but got no biters. So I packed it in and was done.

Thursday, 12/13 - I almost didn't go out today. I was thinking maybe Friday but went anyway. Glad I did. I left the ramp in the dark and got to Indian Creek just when there was beginning to be light. Started looking outside around R37 and started seeing fish up around 25'. Great depth for trolling. So just as I was entering Indian, I put out 2 lines with the small cranks. I didn't even get half way around the basin when I got the first fish at 7am. Just as I tossed it back and started letting the lines back out, all hell broke loose. The birds magically appeared and fish were bustin almost all over!!! I was in heaven. I broke out the casting gear and went after them. The fish were popping up everywhere! I got some and the surface stuff lasted til about 8:30. Then I noticed the fish were still around only down at 25-30ft. Perfect for dragging A-rigs. So I did and got some more fish! Somewhere in there I had to take a coffee break just to rest up. I even eased up Little Indian Creek (LIC) for a peek. Yup, fish there too and I got one. The last fish came at 11:00am. So are you listenin' folks? I ended up with NINE fish! I didn't even know I had that many til now writing this report. Nine - 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 25, 30, 34, and 35 inches. A great day. One on a crank, four casting and four dragging the A-rigs. The two biggest came casting too. Medium action rod using a Storm 4" Wildeye Swim Shad in pearl/char. Who needs bait? After 11am I did run up to Beaverdam to check it out. It was a nice day and I like riding in the boat. I saw a good amout of bait running in up to the island but only a few scattered fish. Not enough to get me to put out lines. I saw one guy on the marina pier casting and catching too. There were no other boats til one guy came about 9am. Way too late. I didn't see him catch any and he was there about an hour. One other boat launched and drove away. That's on big thing I like about winter fishing - no traffic!

Stay warm. Joel

I got out 2 days this week so here it is. Tues 12/4. The water was up a little so launching was no sweat. Started looking at Indian Creek and there are fish there. Not any big school but scattered small bunches. It was enough to get me to put out the lines. Alas, no biters and no surface activity. I tried outside the creek but all was quiet.

Got up to Beaverdam and saw some fish deep with just a few up in the 25-30ft range so I put out the lines. Nothing. I checked up into the creek and saw very little. Checked a few more spots on my way up to Moorman's. Fish were there but again scattered. I had some jumbo minnows so after a trolling loop I put down some bait. Only one hyped up 21"er. Back he went. Looked again on my way back but found nothing interesting.

Thurs 12/6. I'm starting to look around the HFB now. Seems like I see a few fish now and then. I got to Indian Creek again and definitely saw fish. More active than I've seen them yet. I started trolling and made a couple laps in and out of the creek. Not this time. They didn't even want the A-rigs. On the last time out of the creek I kept trolling up river and started a loop just past Hatfield's. Right over the channel I finally got a bite. A very energetic 25". Nice, but tossed him back anyway. Kept moving up river and got as far as the Tennis Courts. Lots of fish there so I put out my last minnows. I felt like the elevator operator moving baits up and down but a hour produced nothing. No surface anything all day either. I am determined.

Later Joel